Metro, 'Scooty' For Girls, 10 Lakh Jobs On BJP's Madhya Pradesh Agenda

Finance Minister Arun Jatley and Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan released the BJP's manifesto for Madhya Pradesh days before the state votes in the assembly elections. Mr Jaitley stressed that the state's growth rate has consistently increased in the last five years.

The party has promised to create 10 lakh new jobs, if voted to power.

Mr Jaitley said the BJP, if voted to power, will continue to add resources the government's welfare schemes for the poor. "The BJP government has changed the agenda of politics and governance in Madhya Pradesh... The agenda is now to improve the standard of living," Mr Jaitley said.

"We have sought to ensure irrigation to every farmland, and subsidy to every farmer. Now, the BJP has decided to give a bonus of Rs 265 directly into the bank account of every farmer with up to 5 acres of land," Mr Chouhan said 

The BJP has been in power in Madhya Pradesh for the last 15 years and is seeking a fourth straight term. It won the 2013 elections with a huge majority.

Mr Jaitley attacked the Congress that was in power till 2003. "The Congress lost the election in 2003, the situation in which the Congress left Madhya Pradesh, just think about it... even in cities, there used to be no water, electricity and roads," he said.

The BJP's manifesto, called  called "Drishti Patra", also mentioned major developments in the infrastructure sector. The BJP promised to build the Narmada Expressway and the Chamba Expressway. Shivraj Singh Chouhan said the cities of Gwalior and Jabalpur will get a metro of the party comes to power. "A mini smart city" will be built in the state, he said.

Girl students will be provided with travel facilities to and from schools with a scooter for every girl who scores over 75 per cent in her Class 12 exams, the manifesto promises.

Madhya Pradesh will vote in the elections for the 230 assembly seats on November 28. Results will be declared on December 11.

The Congress, in its manifesto released last week, promised a spiritual department in the state, as well as plans to promote Sanskrit. The Congress manifesto speaks of developing the "Ram path", a mythical route taken by Lord Ram during his 14-year exile, and the commercial production of cow urine or gaumutra and cowdung cakes.